Fireproof blind



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, W. R. KINNBAR.

. PIRBPROOF BLIND.

No. 572,014. Patented Nov. 24, 1896'.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM R. KINNEAR, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

FIREPROOF BLIND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,014, dated November24, 1896.

Application filed April 10, 1896. Serial No- 586,921. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. KINNEAR, a citizen of the United States,residing at O0- lumbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Blinds;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a blind or curtain for windows,doors, or partitions, which may be economically constructed, readily putup, and easily operated, and which shall afford efficient protectionagainst fire and water.

As I shall prefer to construct these curtains of metallic slats, myinvention further consists of an improved flexible joint connectingtheslats, so that they may roll compactly onto rollers arranged in theupper and lower parts of the window-frame and at the same time whenunrolled be completely waterproof.

H y invention consists, further, in details of construction andmechanism for operating the curtains, all of which are hereinafterparticularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of mycurtain in its single form. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the curtain inits double form, that is, where an airspace is provided to increase itsefficiency as a fireproof curtain. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewshowing the application of my curtain to a door, as of a warehouse orfactory, through which vehicles may be driven or heavy things moved.Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view showing the construction providinggrooves for the reception and movement of the edges of the doublecurtain. Fig. 5 is a detail in cross-section illustrating theconstruction of the flexible joint of the slats.

Like characters of reference in the difierent views designatecorresponding parts.

Referring to the construction illustrated in the first view, 1designates one side of a window. In the upper part of this is journaledhorizontally a roller 2, having fast on one end a small sprocket-wheel 3and alarger sprocketwheel 4, and in the lower part is journaled thewindow-frame.

such length that when unrolled they shall meet at about the middle ofthe window, and their free or movable ends are each provided with astrip of angle-iron, the horizontal faces of \vhich lap when they cometogether. The lower angle-iron may be furnished with pins and the upperone with holes through which the pins project to prevent lateralseparation, and any suitable means may be employed for locking thestrips together when the curtain is closed. The curtain-rollers are eachprotected by inclosing sheet-metal shields, substantially as shown.

The two parts of the curtain are operated by means of sprocket-chains.According to the construction shown in Fig. 1 there are two chains 7 and7, one passing around the sprocket-wheel 3 and one around thesprocketwheel 3, and powervapplied to one roller is communicated to theother by means of the intermediate geared sprocket-wheels 8 and 8,journaled on a plate secured to the side of Brackets or bent arms 9 aresecured to the sprocket-chain 7, and the upper edge of the lower part ofthe curtain is connected with said arm by means of coilsprings 10. Thesesprings allow a cushioned contact of the two parts of the curtain whenthey come together. The two parts of the curtain are operated by meansof a sprocketchain 11, passing around the large pulley 4, which may bemanipulated at any convenient point in the room. Instead of the twochains 7 and 7 and the two geared sprockets Sand 8 I may use simply acrossed single chain belt passing around the roller-sprockets '3 and 3,and thus secure the simultaneous and contrary movements of the parts ofthe curtain. The weight of the upper part of the curtain largely, if notquite, supplies the powerrequired to raise the lower part of the curtainand so renders easy the operation of the same.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated my improvements as embodied in a double ortwofold curtain, that is, one in which each of the parts composing thecurtain extends the entire length of the window. In this instance theparts of the curtain move up and down in separate grooves somewhatseparated, so as to afford an air-space between them. The upper curtainis attached to the roller as before. A single chain passes around andconnects the sprockets of the upper and lower rollers, and the curtainon the lower roller is connected directly to an arm or bracket securedto the chain. In this instance, as in the first, the weight of thecurtain on the upper roller supplies nearly if not quite all the powerrequired to lift the curtain on the lower roller and so renders veryeasy the operation of the curtain. In this instance also the rollers maybe protected by sheet-metal shields.

Where the curtain is to be used in the door of a warehouse, asillustrated in Fig. 3, the lower roller is placed under the floor andthe curtain moved up or down through a slit made for that purpose. Inthis case the upper edge of the curtain on the lower roller will befurnished with a strip of T-iron, the head of which will rest in a slotcountersunk so that the upper face of the T-iron shall be flush with thefloor, thus allowing unimpeded passage of vehicles into and out of thebuilding. In putting up my curtains I propose also to incase in sheetmetal all exposed woodwork of the window-casing, thus preventing ingressor communication of fire to the build ing. NVhere the double curtain isemployed the entire length of the windows and doors and a good air-spaceleft between the parts of the curtain, the ignition of the interior of abuilding or of its contents from the outside will ordinarily beimpossible.

The slats of which I prefer to construct my metallic curtains will be ofsubstantially the form shown in cross-section, Fig. 5. The 0ppositelongitudinal edges will be bent in opposite directions to form grooves19 of rectangular or elliptical hook form in cross-section.

The edge portions of the slat will constitute tongues 20, lying onopposite sides of the general plane of the slat, so as to formwatershedding joints at both edges of the same, and the body of the slatwill be bent across the mouth of the groove to form a shoulder 21, asmall narrow opening being leftfor the insertion in a longitudinaldirection only of the tongue of another similarly-formed slat. IVhen theslats are thus connected, the shoulder 21 prevents lateral separation ofthe slats, but permits their movement upon each other with a hinge-likemovement. Thus the curtain may be rolled compactly upon a roller, andwhen unrolled will form a completely waterproof curtain.

Either or both of'the parts of the curtain may be doubled and separatedby separate channels in the side of the window-frame, so as to afford aplurality of airspaces.

IVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a window or other opening, a curtain or blind composed of twoparts, rollers in the upper and lower parts of said opening upon whichsaid parts of the curtain may be rolled or unrolled, a belt or chainconnecting said rollers, the part of the curtain on the lower rollerbeing connected to said belt, whereby the movement of said belt shallcause the movement of said curtains in contrary directions to open orclose the opening in which the curtain or blind is placed, substantiallyas described.

2. In a window or other opening, rollers journaled in the upper andlower parts of said opening, a double or twofold curtain one part beingsecured to each roller, separate channels or grooves for said parts ofthe curtain, a chain or belt for operating said ourtain, the lower partbeing connected to said chain, substantially as described.

3. A metallic blind or curtain composed of slats having tongues andgrooves formed at their opposite edges, shoulders 21, and slits betweenthe edges of the tongues and shoulders, the tongues lying on oppositesides of the general plane of the slat, whereby the slats may be joinedby sliding the tongues longitudinally in the grooves and a watersheddingcurtain formed, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

IVILLIAM R. KINNEAR. Vitnesses:

RAYMOND H. KINNEAR, L. F. ScoTT.

